50 Summilux soul seaching

[Avotius]

I have to say it, sorry. Gabriel...its all your fault. I hope you dont mind but I have to show some of your pictures that convinced me this is the lens I want.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=54813&ppuser=1505
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=54812&ppuser=1505
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=54835&ppuser=1505
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=54238&ppuser=1505
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=57835

These are all wonderfully smooth, sharp, nice photos. And its exactly what im looking for in the rendering of the lens. These photos show when a special person and a special tool come together its magic.

ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

I give a vote to 50/1.4 pre-asph
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=49851&ppuser=3149

 

[Biggles]

1964-vintage 50mm Summilux:

 

[peter_n]

Very 😎 Major James!

 

[Honus]

The pre-asph Summilux does indeed have a beautiful signature. The asph version, while different, is quite beautiful as well. I have never found it to be harsh.

3 shots courtesy of the 50 asph and my kitchen:

R-D1 f1.4 400iso

M2 f1.4 Tri-X 1600iso

R-D1 f1.4 800iso

 

[Biggles]

That aspherical's yummy as hell.

(edit)

Quick! An antidote!

My old pre-cambrian Summilux again. Don't remember the aperture, but have a look at those weird little halos around the Xmas lights off to the right...

 

[dandp]

Oh my lord....the stuff I'm seeing from both lenses is enough to drive me mad! I too am torn between the pre-asph and the asph as a next purchase. Most of what I'd be doing would be portraits or details of classic cars. I suspect pre-asph would be great for portraits, and the asph great for the cars. Can't do both though....

 

[awilder]

Here's a fairly recent image shot wide open with my 50 asph. on Velvia with partial cropping on either side. I think it nicely demonstrates how it's zone of sharp focus separates out clearly from the OOF portions of the image, slightly enhancing the isolating ability at f/1.4. Sharpness is incredible as seen with the tight crop also enclosed, as if it was a current Summicron but with an f/1.4 aperture.

 

[Avotius]

hehe the more and more I see the pre asph and the asph photos the more I know the pre is for me, but the prices on epray are nuts! I see them going for 1100 to 2000, the 2000's for no reason going so high, nut cases

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Biggles]

Buying anything remotely collectible and/or well-regarded on eBay is, bluntly put, insane. Someone will *always* have deeper pockets.

Don't even bother competing with freaks who'll outbid you because the last three digits of the serial number match their license plate. Watch the various camera sales boards, put out a couple of WTB ads, and maybe e-mail direct requests to those dealers you'd care to buy from.

A vintage 50mm chrome Summilux, in good nick with caps fore and aft, is a $700 or $800 US lens, by my lights. (Your market forces may vary.)

 

[Avotius]

fantastic, I didnt think about buying from a store or something for some reason, I always seem to pay way too much when I do that, but I will follow your advice and start shopping around the smart way!

 

[Harry Lime]

They say that the pre-asph is "weak" at very short focus distances, but I digress, the glass is at least half-full:

Well, it's relative. Close-up @ 1.4 the old Lux is a little soft, but far from unusable (still better than my Canon EF 1.4/50). If you stop down to f2 or 2.8 it sharpens up. No big deal.

The Lux ASPH is blazing sharp close up at any stop, but then again it has a floating element and other tricks up it's sleeve.